Due to the Covid pandemic, NSGF UK Joint National Committee (JNC) was unable to hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM), as planned, in Malvern on 3rd June 2020. With no end to the pandemic and its restrictions in sight, it was decided that they should hold the meeting online via a Zoom link.

The following notice was posted on the NSGF UK website and sent to all members via the two Associations Baden Powell Guild of Great Britain and Scout and Guide Fellowship UK. 8th AGM of NSGF UK JNC, 7.30pm, Friday 7th August 2020, via Zoom. Members are welcome to attend as observers. Please email Sue Page, the JNC Secretary for the link if you would like to attend.

One of the members set up the Zoom meeting and the link was sent to Sue Page, as JNC Secretary. All those members who expressed a wish to attend the meeting were sent an email with the link to the Zoom meeting and the papers for the meeting, to enable them to follow the committee’s deliberations.

All members of the JNC were in attendance plus 11 members. Possibly more than they would usually have as observers. Everyone was welcomed by the Chair, Muriel Rayner. The written reports and copies of the audited accounts were all accepted, the six members of the JNC for the following year were confirmed and the meeting was concluded in 30 minutes.

Conducting the AGM via Zoom proved to be very efficient and to enable more members to attend due to it not being in one location.

It may well prove to be a popular option for the future. The JNC would have to consider amendments to the NSGF UK Constitution to enable virtual meetings, and decisions taken at virtual meetings to be acceptable and make virtual meetings, over face to face locations meetings possible for future years, if not the normal way in future.